Last night we had the birth of our first ever goat triplets. It was a difficult delivery for all three (one presenting head forward but legs pushed backwards and the other two presenting legs forward but head turned to the side), requiring expertise far beyond my own limited skills. Without the kind help of a local farmer, who dropped everything and came rushing over, I'm certain all three would have died, and quite possibly the mother as well. Today they're all strong and healthy, and a good size. I can't believe they all managed to fit inside a single goat less than 24 hours ago!

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I tend not to name the babies, because I generally accept that I can't keep them, and I don't know which ones will end up at the abattoir. The little male certainly will, as these are cross-breeds, but the two girls may well have a future as milkers.

On the upside Goatlady you've possibly got 1 pedigree Billy to sell on for breeding if he's good enough, 1 for eating & 2 to possibly keep on as milkers which works out quite nicely - are you due any more? & how many goats do you own in total? x

I doubt whether I will keep any of them, although the little Pyrenean doe kid is very tempting! I only have four pens, and so it's impractical to keep even one. Also, there's a limit to how much milk we can use.

I have three adult females, one castrated adult male still with us by default (became too affectionate to be sent to the abattoir last year), twin Pyrenean babies and four cross-bred babies. I sold my billy in the autumn, and now they're all a lot easier to manage. No more to give birth this year, thank goodness. I don't think I could take the stress!

My new mother was doing all right until yesterday evening, but now she has no milk left at all, and the babies are constantly trying to get more. She's been a good milker in the past, but I guess she's exhausted from the pregnancy and birth, and she's just not making enough for three. I've started supplementing with milk from the other two mums, but there's not much of that to spare - and that was meant to be for us!